No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope or fear;
But, grateful, take the good I find,
The best of now and here.--John Greenleaf Whittier




"O Lord, that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!"
[William Shakespeare]



The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. ~Oscar Wilde



How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a weary world.
~William Shakespeare

Dancing with the Exhibitionists

How I loved the dancing last night.
How I loved the music last night.

How I cringed at the women's outfits.

I think the producers need to hear from the families out here who are
blushing and covering their children's eyes.

Why do people have to push things farther and farther and farther?

The outfits finally shocked me last night.

It really isn't necessary to wear a bikini...
seriously, the dances are wonderful.
Put on some clothes.




******

I am out the door in ten minutes....

Yesterday I was watching Entertainment Tonight and Oprah was
walking along with a movie guy Tyler Perry. They were walking in front of a huge mansion.
Huge. 60 million dollar huge.

And Oprah says to Tyler,

"Everyone should live in the house of their dreams."


Isn't that the kind of thinking that got this country in it's gigantic financial mess.
All of those people taking out loans for their dream homes???

The homes that were ten times more than what they could afford.

But according to Oprah.

They should have done that because they deserve to have their dream home.

My goodness. That makes me mad.

Seriously stupid.


Discuss.

But still.....encourage one another,
Donna

The itsy bitsy dancer.



Poor Susan Luci. She is so tiny she is about to break.

Her foot work is almost invisible to my eye because her movements are so
delicate and tiny.

She is not made for dancing on the stage.





Tinkerbell has more heft than Susan Luci.
But their feet are the same size.

*****

I happen to love Toni Braxton's dance last night.
I found that whole dance interesting and creative.

(I'd love to show you, but can't find the video yet.)

I'm very surprised Brooke Burke got a ten.

Do you think she deserved it?

Cloris. ugh. She should really go now. She was embarrassing last night.
Even more than usual.



*****

For those of you who have Twitter.

I did a little experiment.

If you leave a comment for someone who is not following you, they can indeed see your comment.

I didn't think they COULD see your comment. So last night I asked someone that I follow who I know does not follow me.
And he answered that yes, he could see my comment.

And I really appreciate it cause all of these new fangled gadgets can get so confusing and I don't like to be confused.

Thanks Nate from Image is Found.

You made my day :o)


*****

I took the girls to the farmer's market on Saturday.

Some of you wondered who the other young women were...

Patrick Jr. has a girlfriend named Shelby. She came to town to see Patrick as he lives far away in Washington.
The other young lady is my daughter in law, Melinda.
Katie and Emma you know.


(While we were at the farmer's market the guys were golfing.)









This is my favorite.



Tuesday blessings!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Images



Colorful, crowded,



Connected,



Christmas!

Walk carefully, well loved one,
walk mindfully, well loved one,
walk fearlessly, well loved one.
Return with us, return to us,
be always coming home.

~LeGuin

What connections will you make this week?
How do you stay connected with your loved ones far and near?



Encourage one another,
Donna

The girls at the retro, used clothing store on State St. in Madison.

Aren't they funny :o)

'I'll love you, dear, I'll love you
Till China and Africa meet,
And the river jumps over the mountain
And the salmon sing in the street,

'I'll love you till the ocean
Is folded and hung up to dry
And the seven stars go squawking
Like geese about the sky.

Those are a few of the lines from a poem by
W. H. Auden

I spotted them on a picture over at Flickr.

They grabbed my heart right away!



******


I thought I would mention that I have a recipe blog.
It's been sitting on the sidebar for about five years.
Not too much action over there but my favorite recipes are listed
including the Italian Beef that I will be making tomorrow and my mother's spaghetti sauce
that will be used in the lasagna I will be making this afternoon.

They are truly my favorites and most of them are super simple!

Take a peek.


Recipes I have known and loved


Happy Weekend!

Patrick, Katie and I are the only ones awake.
Katie is wondering when everyone will wake up.

It's hard waiting for the big kids to wake up.



Encourage one another,
Donna

Five on Friday

A different sort.


1. In Citizen Kane, the main character’s last word before dying is “Rosebud,” which is discovered later to be the name of a favorite childhood sled. The idea is that this rich, powerful, hated man, in his last moment, finds himself thinking of happy, innocent times. If the film were about your life, what word might you utter in similar sentiment?


2. In Groundhog Day, the main character is forced to live the same day again and again until he has learned to love others and to love himself. If you found yourself in an endless loop, living one day repeatedly until you learned the lesson that was holding you back, what would that lesson be?

3. In Freaky Friday, a mother and daughter who have difficulty understanding each other find themselves each living the other’s life (occupying the other’s body and everything!). If this were to happen to you for similar reasons, whose body would you wake up in?

4. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones has to jump into an underground room filmed with the one thing that freaks him out: snakes. “Why did it have to be snakes?” he asks. If the movie were about you, what would you see in the underground room?

5. In Parenthood, a main character explains to her husband that she loves the ups and downs of family life,
she finds it exhilarating and says "I happen to love the roller coaster." Do you love the roller coaster or would you rather be on the merry go round?


Most of these questions are from Friday5.org


********


Menu

Saturday Night for the whole group.

Lasagna
garlic bread
Italian Restaurant Salad

Ree's Chocolate Pie
Red Cake or Carrot Cake



Sunday Lunch

Not sure yet.
Possibly Ree's Chicken Spaghetti



Sunday for after the game

Italian Beef
Chips
Pickles


*******




Are you sure there isn't a market for a book with just pictures of Katie in it?

Cause I could do that.


Happy Friday!

Good luck with those long questions :o)
The answers don't have to be THAT long.

Off to watch Regis and Kelly and clean and shop!!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Once upon a time
I had two little boys.


Oh! How I loved my little boys.







"Why is Matthew wearing a dress?" said Katie upon seeing this.
"It's French. It's a bubble." said I.




Then along came Emma Jean.

Have mercy! Look at the curly headed angel!

I loved every second of it all.


And why am I showing you their baby pictures???

Two reasons.

Numero Uno....THEY WILL ALL BE HOME THIS WEEKEND!!!!

YAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!

and Numero duo;

The woman who took the boy's pictures was from Minocqua, Wisconsin.

I thought she was the most wonderful photographer and she actually inspired to get my first slr camera when I was just out of high school. Her name is/was Audrey Perkins.

She had a great natural eye and did a lot of her photoshoot outdoors.

I was thinking the other day about why I ever got my first fancy camera....and it came to me.

Audrey Perkins.

So God Bless you Audrey, wherever you are.


And get ready kids....

I'll be taking lots of pictures this weekend!!!

You can thank Audrey.



***

Come on back tomorrow to see what I will be feeding the crew.






I took a little walk this morning up to the highest point in Madison.
(It's on my way home from school.)

Pretty,huh?


Encourage one another,
Donna

Let's name the new doctor on Grey's!


The doctors on Greys Anatomy have been given nicknames by the writers.
When a new doc shows up on the show I can't help for thing about a good nickname for them.

We have....

McDreamy
McSteamy


There is a new guy in town and I hope he stays around because he and Yang have real
charisma and chemistry together. One look from that guy to that gal and you knew. You knew.

(I also want him to stay around because most of the other story lines are making me want to throw a shoe at the television.)

So. The new guy.

His name is Major Hunt. Owen Hunt.

McMajor seems rather obvious...but get this,
the guys name in real life is Kevin McKidd.

He is already a Mc. How funny is that?

McMacho.

McKidd

Oh...how about

McStealy






Major Hunt put staples in his own leg without anesthetic!!!

This is how they portray his grit.

McStaples

McGuts....



I don't know. What do you think?





It's beginning to look a lot like autumn.





"Listen! the wind is rising,
and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings,
now for October eves!"
- Humbert Wolfe


"O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away."
- Robert Frost, October


*****


Don't forget!!!

Pushing Daisies is on tonight!!

7:00 central





Pushing Daisies


Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. I will be putting the down quilt on the bed tonight.
I love sleeping under down.

Relinquishment is always a part of the process of maturing. When Christian parents have done all that can be done to shape their children for God, the time comes when the hands must let go. The child, now a responsible adult , must be released. For any parent this is painful, even when the child is moving in the direction the parents prayed for.
The child's continued development, and the spiritual health of the parents as well, depend on the willingness to accept this next stage of the cycle-hands off, ready to part without a struggle, giving up authority and control, entrusting that child to God.

Elisabeth Elliot
A Path Through Suffering

O Lord, whose way is perfect, help us we pray, always to trust in Your goodness, that walking with You and following You in all simplicity, we may possess quiet and contented minds and may cast all our care on You, who cares for us. Grant this, O Lord, for You dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ.

Christina Rossetti

This little one. Firmly in my greedy paws.
Still shaping and enjoying on a daily basis.

God was so good to me. He knew just what would give me joy....
in my advanced maternal age.



Learning acceptance,
Donna

P.S. I forgot to mention DWTS.
I can't stand the Rumba. Can't quite see the dance in it.
I liked Lance and Lacy...although I HATE that song.
And Warren. He was fab. The man floated across the floor!!

About four months ago, I accidentally picked out the regular salt instead of the iodized salt.

I noticed when I arrived home and started putting things away.

And the worry began.

You know, I have used iodized salt for my whole life and have successfully kept The Gout away.

Thank heavens.

But I wasn't about to take it back or buy a new carton. (Although it costs under fifty cents! It's silly that I didn't.)

I was going to risk it. Surely, I can go four months without iodine. I think. I hope.

As my container came to it's end I was happy that no one had The Gout.
No giant lumps in the throat like they show you in school.

We dodged the bullet.

And then. Last week, I was reading in my Cooks Illustrated magazine...

The test kitchen prefers plain salt to iodized salt.
They have tested it and plain salt tastes better

And

"It's worth noting that nowadays most people get sufficient iodine from baked goods and dairy products
(iodine is in dairy cow feed and is used to wash their udders before milking).


Ah! I was safe all along!

From now on I will be a plain salt gal.

And now that I know cow's udders are washed with iodine before milking....

I haven't a worry or a care.




******

SNEAK PEEK!

What a dream to photograph little boys with blue eyes!




I have never seen such a color!




He really was happy to show me his truck.





Thank goodness the water nozzles weren't hooked up to hoses :o)

I would have been very wet!





Gorgeous even before editing :o)


******


The new Sunday Night fall shows premiered last night.

Patrick and I were especially happy to watch The Amazing Race!

Do you have any favorites on Sunday Night?

Aren't you happy to learn that your Gout Worries are over?




Encourage one another,
Donna

They say it's your birthday.....

Well, it's my birthday too,

Yeah.







The emails and facebook wishes are coming in at a frenetic pace....

I had better get this post up or you will all be worn out before you get to my comment box!

It's my birthday and I am thankful to be here.

So thankful to get to look into the faces of the ones I love.

Thankful to have the time to learn and experience more.

Thankful to just enjoy the breeze and the leaves and the laughter and the view.


I find it's a wonderful life as long as I am thankful for the things that matter most to me.

There is so much suffering. And I don't like it one bit.

But on my birthday....I choose be thankful.

I'll complain about the wrinkles and oldness tomorrow.

Today we CELEBRATE LIFE!!!


Party time!!! Donna's blog.

Bring your thankful hearts and cheer!

So you see, old age is really not so bad. May you come to know the condition.
Cicero

Encourage one another,
Donna

I have been seeing these fuzzy grasses around town this year.
They are so pretty! And so touchable.

I bet you couldn't walk by one of these and not give it a smooth stroke.
Like petting a cats tail.

But the pinkness is a surprise, isn't it?


*******


I'm sorry this post is so late.

Another day where I have been on the go since I woke up.

Real life is giving my lazy bones a real kick in the seat.


I know the things I am doing are good things.

it's just taking me a little while to adjust to all of these good things.

For the last year I have been without a car most days. So I ventured out of the house but once a day to run to the grocery store or the library.

I feel a bit like a baby who has been pushed into the bright, unusual world.

I loved my cozy, quiet, simple days.

Perhaps I coveted them more than I realized.

Perhaps I am much lazier than I ever want to admit.

I will find the balance and energy soon.

Who knew having all the children out of the house would be so tough?




I listen to this song over and over....it helps me drive the speed limit.

It's called One Fine Wire.


Love you!


Encourage one another,
Donna

I worked so hard on this...and there I see two messed up squares.
Boo.

The walk went wonderfully.
The Primary raised $ 11,000.00

Katie walked 10 laps.
One boy broke the record and ran 18 laps.

They did so great. It was so fun to see all of the cute children.
Over and over and over as they circled the school!

They were not given any homework so they were delighted about that!

Each time Katie passed me she was holding someone elses hand (girls) or racing along with a new friend.

It was very sweet.




Here is my new friend Katie's daughter.
Katie is a photographer, too.

They are both super nice!

Here is Katie's niece.



How about those eyes???



A bigger look at some happy 3 rd grade girls.

The Hunger March is this morning.
Katie is very excited.
I will be there helping, so I will come back later with thrilling action photos, I'm sure :o)

I can remember wanting to do a march to raise money when I was in junior high or high school.

My mom would not let me. I think she thought it was too radical.

Even if it was for charity.

My how things have changed. I wonder what she would think of Katie marching for hunger?


******


Two disappointing eliminations on reality television last night.

Sweet, cute Ted was the second to go on DWTS. He just didn't have the fan base. Poor guy.
He was good and looked so sad.


So sorry Ted. It wasn't your dancing. It was the fact that the older ladies who think you're cute....
don't vote.


And the wrong person was sent home on Project Runway.
The 50's girl was rude to Tim and designed a horrible outfit and the judges roundly hated it.
But she stayed.

Hummm????

Could it be a ratings ploy?

I really wanted her gone!


*****


Okay. I'll be back!

Happy Thursday all!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Literary Quotes



Autumn


It was, as I have said, a fine autumnal day; the sky was clear and serene, and nature wore that rich and golden livery which we always associate with the idea of abundance. The forests had put on their sober brown and yellow, while some trees of the tenderer kind had been nipped by the frosts into brilliant dyes of orange, purple, and scarlet.
~Washington Irving


He lowered the window, and looked out at the rising sun. There was a ridge of ploughed land, with a plough upon it where it had been left last night when the horses were unyoked; beyond, a quiet coppice-wood, in which many leaves of burning red and golden yellow still remained upon the trees. Though the earth was cold and wet, the sky was clear, and the sun rose bright, placid, and beautiful.
~Charles Dickens








The World


"In this world you've just got to hope for the best and prepare for the worst and take whatever God sends."
LM Montgomery

"If you would have your son to walk honourably through the world, you must not attempt to clear the stones from his path, but teach him to walk firmly over them - not insist upon leading him by the hand, but let him learn to go alone."
~Anne Bronte


On Age


"One should never trust a woman who tells one her real age. A woman who would tell one that, would tell one anything."
~Oscar Wilde



Oh! Oscar. How well you know me.



Encourage one another,
Donna

Never in a gazillion years did I think I would choose Warren Sapp as my favorite new Star on
Dancing with the Stars. But I do. I will. I choose him.





Other dancers who I think have a chance...

Brooke Burke
Lance Bass
Maurice the runner


First to go

The "comedian"
La Lucci
Rocco (Not because he is terrible, I have a feeling people don't know him. He's cute tho.)

Kinda boring:

Kim K
Misty
Cody


I'm on a first name basis because I can't spell well and am forgetful.


I would love to hear your opinions!!


******


Miss Katie is walking in a Hunger March at her school on Thursday.

She visited our neighbors to gather pledges and is ready to go.

The Primary students walk around the school block for one hour and earn money for each lap.

In the past they earned $12,000. This money is dispersed locally and internationally.

I love that all of these wonderful opportunities are in place and all we have to do is volunteer.

As a homeschooler for 14 years, any time you wanted to do anything like this...you had to reinvent the wheel and do all of it yourself. It was super hard. (Maybe not hard for others, but hard for me. I am not a big picture organizer sort of person.)

So as far as extra curricular and charity work....I am loving the Blessed Sacrament "machine" :o)

The Middle Child that I am is all about following the leader.


Tell me.

Do you prefer to organize or be the helping hands?
What is your birth order?



Encourage one another,
Donna

The Emmy were on last night.

They were rather lackluster....and a little boring when you don't have the pay-cable and most of the winners and nominees are from pay cable stations. But....it was a lot more interesting than the stinky Packer game that was also on last night.




Here is one of the desperate housewives. She is wearing my favorite designer. Elie Saab.

I personally would have preferred this dress in seafoam or pink...but that's just me.




Julia looked stunning in this wonderful dress and color.

She really does have incredible style.




Sandra Oh was there with her parents. She is so much sweeter and lovelier in real life then she is on Grey's Anatomy.

You would like her.



Here is House's boss. I love this look. She is fresh and pretty and I think the shorter length works.





This dress was not on the show. But I love it. The model is rather grumpy, isn't she?





Here is Brett. This picture happened to be in the same file as the Emmy fashions.

Me and Matthew miss him.

A lot.



***

So which dress do you like best?

What show are you looking forward to watching this season?


I can't wait for Pushing Daisies!



Encourage one another,
Donna

Once upon a time, two little homeschool girls played high school soccer together.
They played on a co-ed team. They often played all boys teams.

These two little homeschool girls were tough, sturdy and skilled.

They were an asset to their team and they loved playing and being a part of the homeschool
soccer team.

As it happens, one of the girls graduated and went far away to college.

The younger gal followed behind two years later.

This fall they both find themselves at Moody Bible Institute in city with big shoulders.

Where they again play soccer together.

They are still tough, sturdy, and skilled.

So when their club team played a Varsity team for their one and only game of the year....

It was a special delight that those two little homeschooled girls scored the only goal for their college team.

Corner kick by the little red head to the little blondie.

Score.

And their momma's cheered...just like old times.


Serendipity.

We are off to watch Emma play in a soccer game today....

I have only a second.

As today it was sleep and shower or blog.

Sorry guys.

I shall just show you the anatomy of a photo today.



Last night before the sun went down, I grabbed Katie and got my little photography fix for the day.

I actually feel strange if I don't take a picture a day.


Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 800


Hey! Why do I have my ISO on 800?
That is a mistake.
Ah well.

Check your ISO before you start shooting.

This would usually resulted in a grainy picture.

HuH?



Then came the crop and some Actions.

I am in love with Sesame Ellis Actions. She is a photographer who moved to Australia this year and had twins.
Remember her twin belly shot!!!

Anyway....I highly recommend these actions!!

Sesame Ellis Actions




Then I tried my new SE action Memory-Tone on it. This is the same one I used on the beautiful beauties the other day.



Then we went to the forest primeval and I took this picture.

Not.

This is a Lightroom Preset.

I let my inner drama queen come out on this one.

Love what this Preset did to Katie's eyes.


Happy happy week-ending. (I love how MFS says that)

Enjoy!!!!



Encourage one another,

Donna

Friday Five



1.Of television programs that aired before you were born, what’s your favorite?

2.What person of historical significance was from your neighborhood or city?

3.What’s a story that’s often been told about someone in your family in the years before you came along?

4.Which of previous generations’ dumb mistakes (in deed or thought) baffles you the most?

5.What aspect of life in the good old days would you love to see a return to?



Courtesy of Friday5.org
These are questions from Aug. But I liked them. Should be fun reading today :o)




In which Katie explains the words to a song to me

Ever since seeing this dance on So You Think You Can Dance, I have liked hearing this song.




But my problem is...I don't understand the words and it's weird hearing Katie's little voice singing 'keep bleeding, keep, keep bleeding"....and then I say to her....I don't like these words, what is she talking about??


" She says, keep bleeding LOVE." With complete understanding of what that means...to an eight year old.

Which is the love is flowing out. It's bleeding out.

Simple as that. Well. Okay. I can accept that explanation.

Do you find it strange that my eight year old can understand lyrics better than i do?

I do.

And if you watch the video. I love the stomping @ 1:45.

The final word on my Jury Duty experience

I wrote in the comments what happened with Jury Duty on Monday, but I fear some of you didn't catch it.
Well, I'll share here and add to the story.

It has a sweet ending :o)

Monday I went to Jury Duty selection.

All of the scary new things worked out. Finding the building. Parking. Having enough change.
Going thru security. Signing in.

All without a hitch.

We watched a video about the importance of serving and waited for our number to be called.

I visited with the woman next to me and was called in the third group.

We followed the bailiff to a court room.

Our group (of about 40) entered, swore to be truthful and sat down.

Then the judge called off 23 names.

The twenty three people went and sat in the 'jury box'.

I was NOT among the 23 people.

These 23 people were questioned by the judge and both attorneys.

The accused was sitting at the desk with their attorney.

After all the questions were asked the attorney's get to each strike 5 names from the list of 23.

Which leaves 13. A jury of 12 and an alternate.


When this was over the unselected went back to the main waiting area.

We waited and then were called to go back to the courtroom for another selection process.

Again the 23 were chosen and I again was not chosen.

My duty was finished for the week. However, I was scheduled to return the following Monday
for more jury selections.

That would be this coming Monday.

But now I have a new set of problems.

Patrick will be on a business trip for part of the week and I will not have any help with Katie.

So. I followed the instructions on the jury pamphlet and wrote to the Clerk and requested a postponement.

I wrote a very nice letter and said I would be happy to serve, but just on another week.
I thanked her (the clerk) for all of her hard work.

(You know...the ole honey/vinegar routine.)

And Wed. I received a phone call excusing me from next week and saying my jury duty service is complete.

Hip hip hooray!!!

I love when big scary problems just work themselves out....so beautifully!!!

*deep sigh*

I know jury duty is not big and scary, really. It's just that dealing with the unknown
freaks me out a little.



Don't forget your answers! I sure like those questions!




Encourage one another,
Donna